Rug conveyor for dry room



March 5, 1957 w. E. MYERS 2,783,868

RUG coNvEYoR FOR DRY R'QoM- original Filed May 20,1955

9 Sheng-sheet 1 Way/7e March 5, 1957 w. E. MYERS RUG coNvEYoR FOR DRY RooM Original Filed May A2O, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Way/7e f. /Vye/ 4free/Veys wml .ull

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March 5, 1957 w. E. MYERS RUG coNvEYoR FOR DRY Room original Filed May 2o, 1955 9 sheets-sheet s 1N V EN TOR. Way/7 e /Wj/ ens @Tra/PNEYS March 5, 1957 W. E. MYERS 2,783,868

RUG CONVEYOR FOR DRY ROOM Original Filed May 20, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet. 4

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March 5, 1957 Original Filed May 20,

w. E, MYERS 2,783,868

RUG CONVEYOR FOR DRY ROOM 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 @MM 39m March 5, 1957 w. E. MYERS RUG coNvEyoR FOR DRY RooM 9 Sheets-Shee't 6 Original Filed May 20, 1955 --vaa rrroR/VEKS March 5, 1957 W. E. MYERS 2,783,868

RUG CONVEYOR FOR DRY ROOM Original Filed May 20, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Mmh s, 1957 W. E. MYERS RUG CONVEYOR FOR DRY ROOM Original Filed May 20, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 pumunnlu JNVENTOR. Weg/ne @ens March 5, 1957 w. E. MYERS 2,783,863

RUG CONVEYOR FOR DRY ROOM l Original Filed May 20, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 effen/V576 United States vPatent `O Original application May 20, 1955, Serial No. 509,714. Divided and this application April 2, 1956, Serial No. 575,42

7 Claims. (Cl. 198-178) This is a divisional application from my co-pending ap plication, Serial No. 509,714, tiled May 20, 1955, for

Rug Conveyor for Dry Room.

The invention relates to rug conveyor means for a rug drying room, usually more conveniently termed a dry room, wherein wet rugs are individually suspended after washing or other type of liquid cleaning process. The resulting damp rugs are carried on said conveyor means from one end of the room, the loading end, to the opposite end or unloading end. For convenience the conveyor means will also be described as having a loading end and an unloading end.

Those skilled in the art are familiar with the general arrangement wherein a damp rug has one end thereof secured to Ia pole or similar device, after which the pole is raised on a vertical conveyor at the loading end, transferred to a horizontal conveyor at the top end of the loading conveyor, moved horizontally progressively from the loading towards the unloading end, and then transferred from the horizontal conveyor to a vertical unloading conveyor at the unloading end. At the unloading end the rug is removed from its carrier pole, and the empty pole is transferred to the loading end for re-use.

In the aforementioned prior art devices the return conveyor-for emptypoles moved slowly, as of course also did v"e work carrying conveyor, and if there were, for example, fty loaded poles in motion there were fifty empty poles returning to the loading end.

One of the critical portions of the apparatus in prior use was the'transfer means for transferring poles from the vertical to the horizontal conveyor, or vice versa. Various operational problemsarosej at this point. Other problems arose from the fact that conventional'rugs have a substantial Itransverse dimension, requiring long carrying poles, and therefore the -two side-supporting conveyor frames were spaced widely apart. 'Ihe usual driving arrangement was to provide one motor to drive the conveyor system on one side, or some part thereof, and to further provide a driving shaft or shafts extending transversely -to the other side. This'required 'very careful alignment of bearings at opposite ends of these transverse shafts. 1`h-ese and otherdisadvantages of prior art rug con# veyors of 'this character may be inferred from the following listing of objects of -the present invention wherein the novel structural features and advantages .are empha- 'One object ofthe invention is Ato working, positive, dry room. Another object is to provide a rug conveyor which can be' prefabrica-ted in suitable unit lengths for subsequent 'assembly in any desired arrangement.

j Another object of the invention is to provide novel and' improved means for predetermining, at the choice 'of the operator, the direction of rotationA of a rug carrying pole when such therefrom'a't the delivery end of- `the apparatus.

provide a smoothly and safe rug conveyor system for a pole is being rotated to free a dried 4rug similar to Fig. 5, but 'with some ,working parts in a dif- Other objects and advantages Will `be apparent from a study of the following descriptive text, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of practically a complete dry roomrug conveyor system including: the loading conveyor which extends into the room beneath the dry room; -the horizontal drying conveyor and horizontal empty pole return, both near the dry room ceiling; and the delivery and unloading conveyor, the part of the latter which extends into the lower room being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the inner, upper, corner of the right side frame of the apparatus where the upright conveyor at -the loading end meets the horizontal conveyors, the view being taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 3 is :a vertical sectional line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view, taken on 'the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. '5 is :a fragmentarysideelevational view of the inner, lower end of the left-hand side unloading conveyor which was missing from Fig. l, the present drawing being considerably enlarged in comparison with Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the inner, lower, left-hand side of the unloading conveyor view taken on the section ferent operating p-osition.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view ofthe outer, lower, left-hand side of the unloading conveyor, this view and that of Fig. 6 being, of course, the outer and inner ,side Irespec-tively of the same part of the appar-atus.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view, somewhat enlarged, as taken on the section line 8 8 of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a vertical side elevational view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, some moving parts being in a different operating position. Fig. 10v is a view of a part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 9, the operating parts being-in yet another operating position.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary side elevationalv view of the inner, upper, corner of the right side frame of the apparatus, where the horizontal conveyors meet the upright delivery or unloading conveyor.

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional 12 12 of Fig. 9. Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on the line 13 13 of Fig. 7, and enlarged.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of Fig. 8, and enlarged. Fig. l5 is 'a diagrammatic showing of the electrical control 'systemj' l Fig. 16 is a verticalV elevational view of another em.- bodiment of track control, somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 7. f

Fig. 17 is a side elevational view similar to a portion view taken on the line' taken on the yline 14 14 l of Fig. 11, but enlarged, and showing 'a specific type 'of each side: is mainly identical.

chain link differing somewhat from that shownl in the earlier. drawings.

Fig. 18 is aside elevational view of-a drive shaft .bearingV support, toi-show the -locationgof a-'r`r1otor' c'ut-ofr switchff GENERAL'DESCRIPTION` I Speaking first generally, with reference particularly 'to Fig. 1, the rug drying means is of rectilinear arched form having two spaced upright structures, a right and a left sideframe or arch, and across the top a-horizontal structure. For the purpose of this specification only-one arch '.Will for themost part be described since the operation'fin Referring now to Figs;r "1i,

" enseres 2 and 11, a wet rug 20 is attached to a pole 21 at the `loading end of vthe apparatus, and thereafter the pole Vv2'1,

carrying rug 20, is carried upwardly on an endless loading conveyor L and then automatically transferred, in a `manner to be later described, to an endless horizontal drying conveyor D, better shown lin Figs, 2 and 11. At thevdelivery end of theroom the horizontal drying conveyor D 'automatically transfers the pole and rug to the endless vupright delivery or unloading conveyor U. Other rugs a, Mib, Y2de, 26d, etc., have preceded 'rug 20 'in thisy sequence, as well shown in Fig. f1. The conveyor D is called a drying -conveyor because it moves relatively slowly acrosst e room, thereby permitting the rugs to dry during transit. lt may be noted here `vthat there is a fourth endless conveyor across 'the top 'of the arch, generally parallel to Vbut spaced from conveyor D. This fourth convyorvvill be identiiedby letter R to indicate a return conveyor since it carries empty poles rearwardly for use in a new travel cycle. It may be further noted that the inside vliights 4of c'nveyo'rs L 'and U `(namely Ythe flight towards the center of Fig. l) are active in the operation so far described. The outside flight L1 receives an empty pole from conveyor R and carries it clockwise (Fig. l1) afr nd to the 'loading point Vor starting point at S. The outside Hight 'U1 carries an empty pole upwardly and clockwise (Eig. l) and delivers it to the upper '(outer) flight R1 of fast return conveyor B. As previously intirfnted, andas Will later be'more fully described, conveyors L, jU and 'R travel at relatively high speed as compared to the considerably slower'speed of drying conveyor D.

Conveyor driving Vand transmission means Figs, I, 2, 3 and -4 Four endless conveyors have so far been characterized. There are, of course, eight, four on the left side and four on the right'side looking in the direction of rug travel, and it may happen in this description that in transition from one figure of the drawings to another there may be a'transition'from `the right side set `nf conveyors'to the'left' side set of conveyors or vice-versa, but this should notprove confusing sinee'identical reference characters willrter to fmirrOr-imas'p'frfs 0n both `Sides- 4l have provided a single power unit for driving all endless conveyors on both sides, which sides are normally fifteen to'twenty feet apart depending on the pole length used. The power source A of Fig. '1, better shown in Fig. 4,"comprises a motor 23 coupled through a conventional speed-change and directional-change unit 24 to transverse shaft parts 25a, 2512, which at their ends are journalled in bearing housings 26a and 261') on wall brackets 2S.

Each side frame has its own transmission, each transmission d'riven by a respective chain from sprockets on the respective ends of shaft parts`25a, Figs. l, 2, 3 and 9, 'and 25h, Fig. 18. Onev such chain 29d is shown driving the transmission for the right side conveyors. Fig. 18 shows the left side bearing support for shaft part 251) which drives sprocket 30 and chain 29h.

This drive arrangement has a practical, advantageous aspect. In Lthe older systems Vwith lifteen to twenty feet of transverse shafts, and frequently three or more shafts, there was aproblem of getting the heavy, unwieldy conveyor structures installed so far apart with suiicient accuracyfofalignment. 'Also the atmospheric conditions in the d ry room were conducive t0 binding or cramping of shaft bearings, due to humidity, thermal expansion, etc. In the present arrangement, Awith each conveyor side driven independently, painstaking alignment is not required, and it is only 'necessary to have the sides parallel and sufficiently aligned to avoid cooking the poles.

The transmission s hown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 is basically responsive to rotation of a main shaft 33 which is driven by chain 29a through Va-sprocket 34, Fig. 3. The shaft 33 journalled in bearings 35, 36 ina transmission sup,- port bracket 37, the latter being secured to and suspended iit) 4 from a channel member 38a which in turn is lixed to a transverse beam 39 in or near the ceiling.

A sprocket 42 (Fig. 3) on shaft 33 drives the loading conveyor L. This endless conveyor, of link chain form, runs around an idler sproket 43 (Fig. l) at the bottom ofthe conveyor frame. Equidistantly spaced on the chain are pole carriers 44 (Fig. 2), these carriers being bifurcated to provide spaced fingers 44a and 44h. The slot between fingers is adapted to receive an offset, reduced 'ale portion d5 of rug pole 21, this feature being well shown, for example, in Figs. 3 and 8. Poles 21 may be constructed from any desired material such as ywooL'or the tubular metallic stock here show-n. Although :not here shown, the metal tube might have a Wooden core. By reason of the pole axle 4S being substantially ottcenter with respect to the axis of the pole itself, the pole is underslung and has no tendency to rotate, but it can be intentionally rotated at a certain point in the operational cycle by means of a sprocket 46 Eattached to .the axle, as will appear.

"Bhe upper surface ,of the pole carries a strip 4of pins 47 (Fig. 3) upon which vthe` 1ug.is impafled. A normally looped only a short way .around va pole, nap upward, and even though .the rweight may cause v,the pole to cant somewhat, the pins hold it securely.

Speed reduction .drive .for drying conveyor The speed reduction gearing between the main ,shaft 33 and the drying conveyor chain 'D is arranged as io1- lows. A pinion 48 aixed to shaft 33 ,drives alarge `gear 49 on an idler shaft '50 jour-nailed below shaft, 33 in the transmission bracket 37. Rotatablymounted `on shaft 433 is a shorter sleeve 53 running on bearings 54. This-sleeve has a sprocket 5S which drives chain conveyorD. `Integral with gear 49 is a pinion V56. drives aneth-enlarge gear 57 journalledl on a stubha'ft 58 forward of shaft Soin the supportingbr-acket 37. The end of shaft SS is threaded `'and `sl'iouldered and tits through a slot 59 in the supporting bracket, securedlby a nut'60. Slot 49 is arcuate, concentric with shaft 50. Rotatable with gear 57 Yis fa'multiple sprocket 63, and this l.drives a multiplesprocket .64 onsleeve 53 byznreans of chain 65. Rotation Aof sleeve S3, `of course, .rotates sprocket previously mentioned which `in turn drives chainD ,at #a rate considerably reduced from the rate ,of rotation of shaft 33. rDhe multiple sprocket 63 is interchangeable, tted on a keyed .hub fixed with respectto gear 57. This sprocket for additional convenience .can be diametrically split, being bolted to tightly clamped position on the hub, .and suitably sized sprockets cari `be substituted for .any desired speed ratio.

The horizontal fast return conveyor' drive As previously stated, the `horizontal pole return con'- veyor R is driven at ,the same rate 7as the vertical oo nveyors. its drive sprocket 67 .(Figs,.'2 and 1'2) isy journalled in a supportingbracket 68 spaced somewhat ,from the main transmission. "Dite bracket is pivotallysuspended from a part 68a bolted to channels 38,.38a,` and" has a link rod 69 connected to a' brace member 70 as a chain take-up means. The sprocket support 68 may .be located farther back from the transfer point kinsorne installations since the chain length is in multiples ofthe ASpace.between carriers. 'In those cases the auxiliary track sections 47 3 (Fig- 9) would be made the .desired length, andthe poles would come 'aroundionto ,the trackfaidlbemevstl forward to the transfer device bythe carrier lug.

Sprocket 67 is fastened at-one end to ashaft`74 jonrnalled in a tubular 'bearing housing 62 of bracket 68. At Vthe other end of s'haft`74 is secured anothensprocket which Vis driven by achain'76ffroma drive sprocket 77 on the main transmissionshaft 3 3. `.There s,.t her e. fore, a direct drive from shaft 33'to the Vfast retnrnpconveyor'R.

A Small idler tekoop-Sprocket '1S- rides on 7 (Fig. 2), its supporting arm 78a pivotally carried by a shaft 79 on the bracket 68. This maintains chain 76 in suiciently taut condition.

Fast drive for unloading conveyor As previously indicated, the unloading conveyor U travels at a relatively fast speed which i-s also the speed of travel of the loading conveyor L and the empty pole return conveyor R.

Unloading conveyor U consists of an endless chain extending substantially vertically, although actually somewhat divergent outwardly and downwardly at the delivery or unloading end of the machine. A shaft 82 is carried in the frame at the delivery end of the machine (Fig. l1). Fixed to shaft 82 are two identical sprockets 83 and 84. As indicated by the full and dotted lead lines in Fig. 11, sprocket 84 is behind sprocket 83. Pole return conveyor chain R 4'drives sprocket 83, and sprocket S4, turning therewith, drives the unloading conveyor ohain U at the same speed. At the lower end of the chain is an idler sprocket 85 (Fig. 7). At the loading end, conveyor chain R runs under a guide disk 86 (Fig. 3).

Structure and operations: Loading end Returning now to the loading end, an empty pole moves downward on the outer ight of conveyor L, being carried in the slot between fingers 44a and 44b of carrier 44. best shown in Fig. 2, although in Fig. 2 it happens to be on the ascending flight of conveyor L. Referring to Fig. l, and assuming that the carrier is moving downwardly at about the point B, it continues and rol-ls around an arcuate track S7 at the bottom. The track sections are formed from simple angle irons S8 (Fig. 2). A carrier leg abuts the pole ,axle 45 (Fig. 8) which normally maintains the wheel 45a in contact with the leg of the track 88. At the bottom the straight portion of the angle iron tracks rest on a foot piece 89 on the floor, but the arcuate track section intercepts the pole wheel and directs the pole around and upwardly on the inner track. lt may be noted that the upright loading and unloading conveyors and their accessory support frame structures carry only their own weight, and rest on the floor, and the frame structure for the horizontal conveyors is suspended from the ceiling, as previously explained. Upward movement of the pole on the inner flight of conveyor chain L intercepts the switch S1 and cuts off current in a maintaining circuit which had previously been established as follows (Fig. The operator depressed button 92 to energize solenoid 93 as follows: line conductor 94, conductor 95, button switch 92, conductor 95, solenoid coil 93, conductor 97, and line conductor 9S. Energization of the solenoid causes its armature to close motor switch S2, starting motor 23 and also :setting up a maintaining circuit for the motor .as follows: from line conductor 98, conductor 97, coil 93, conductor 99, closed switch S3, conductor 1%, closed switch S1, conductors 101 and center contact of switch S2 and line conductor 94. Starting button 92 may now be released, since the circuit is maintained as above indicated, but the maintaining of the circuit is dependent on the closed condition of switches S1 'and Sa. As has been noted, S1 is opened by arrival thereat of each empty pole, which necessitates re-starting by means of button 92. Switch Sa is opened only in certain emergency or undesirable conditions as will be explained hereinafter but the apparatus may well be used indefinitely without opening switch Ss.

The frame track members 88 are connected near the bottom by a sprocket support bracket 107 (Fig. l) and at intervals along the height by cross members 108 which have a portion lllSa extending inwardly between the tracks to provide a support for chain guiding strips or bars 199 which are located a short distance inward from the plane of the roller tracks 88. Chain guides 109 (Figs. 6, 7

and 8) are thin bars, xed in place as above noted, and their edges serve as backing supports for the conveyor chain rollers. The pole carriers 44 have rearwardly extending guides or plates 44e (Fig. 2) which straddlethe edge of the guide strip 109 to additionally hold the conveyor chain in its correct path. This track structure may be fabricated on the job, but it has been found advantageous to have units of standard length made up so that they can be readily assembled. A unit would contain, for example, a few feet of parallel tracks, chain guides, and cross connectors. The meeting plane of two such units may be noted, for example at the planes M in Fig. 2. The frames for the other conveyors D, U, and R are similarly constructed from readily assembled units.

Pole transfer from one conveyor to another There are two transfer points for a loaded pole in the present apparatus, namely the place where a pole with a wet rug thereon is transferred from the upright loading conveyor L to the horizontal drying conveyor D, and the place where the pole with a dried rug thereon is transferred from the drying conveyor D to the unloading conveyor U.

When the operator places a wet rug on a pole at the loading end of the dry room, and pressed the startingl button, the pole ascends on the inner ight of conveyor L as shown for rug 20 in Fig. 2. The pole axle portion eventually contacts and raises a latch member 110 pivoted at 111 on the transmission bracket. As the pole roller reaches Vthe level of the track corner where upright track 88 meets its horizontal counterpart 88a, its carrier 44 continues upwardly to make the turn and descend again, but since carrier finger 44h slopes downwardly the roller tends to fall outwardly towards the left (Fig. 2) onto the horizontal track 88a. An additional means is provided to assure correct transfer, namely cam plate 112 which, of course, prevents the pole from ascending further with conveyor L, but instead urges it onto track 88a. As can best be seen in Fig.k2, the irst part of track 83a which receives the loaded pole is inclined slightly towards the upright conveyor, and the pole axle rests against l'atch 110 until it is contacted by a pusher lug 113 on the lower flight of drying conveyor D. There are a number of such pusher lugs, spaced suitably to intercept a pole quickly after it arrives at the transfer point. The long leg of the lug contacts the pole axle and the pole wheel moves along the horizontal track. As the wheel moves up the track incline, the axle part moves up between the front and back faces of the lug. Since for drying purposes the horizontal drying conveyor D moves more slowly than the upright loading conveyor L, the pole-moving lugs on conveyor D are closer to each other than are the carriers 44 on conveyor L, and so spaced that there will always be a lug arriving at the transfer point immediately after a pole is deposited on track 58u by the loading conveyor.

The drying conveyor moves the rug-carrying pole slowly across the dry room, the temperature and atmosphere conditions in the room being adequate to fully dry the rug in the time elapsinf before arrival at the unloading conveyor, the location of the next transfer point, which is well shown in Figs. l0, ll, l2, and the modified version 17. As will later appear, Fig. l`7 differs from the embodiment so far described only in the construction of the links 128 of unloading conveyor U. The showing of Figs. ll and 17 represents the upper, inner corner of the conveyor frame structure at `the delivery end, on the right as viewed from the loading end.

When a pole arrives at the end of the horizontal con veyor, it is automatically freed from lug 113 and comes to rest at the transfer mechanism. Automatic clearance from lug 113 is facilitated by a special corner section comprising a downwardly inclined initial stretch llf'a, a corner stretch 1Mb, and a final stretch 114e yaligned with the upright track 88d, all as best seen in Fig. 17. These parts are welded .between a front plate 11S and a rear plate 116, and there is also a spacer plate 117 to maintain the front and rear plates in spaced relationship. On the respective outer surfaces of plates 115 and 116 are secured boss discs 118 and 119 and those are bored to-receive a shaft 120. Secured to the inner end of shaft 120 is a transfer disk 121 and fixed on disk 121 are three evenly separated spacer pins 122 which are secured to a Contact disk 123 and this in turn is spaced from boss disk 118 by a friction disk 124. Examination of lig` l?. will show that the assembly of disks 118, 121, 123, 124 are maintained in operative contact by the compression spring 125 which is retained on shaft 1211 by the washer 126 and nut 127. Y

The side plate 115 has a stud 130 projecting therefrom which serves as a pivot pin for a latch member 131 spaced slightly from plate 115 by a shoulder on the stud and retained by a collar 132. The other end of latch 131 is shaped at the bottom to rest on an aligned spacer 122 as best shown in Fig. 17. The latch rests in the manner shown when the transfer disk 121 is at rest, but it will be apparent that counterclockwise movement of the transfer disk 121 will cause the spacer pin 122 to clear to the end face 13112 of latch 131, at which time the latch will drop until its lower edge contacts the next spacer pin in counterclockwise sequence. As will appear, the upturned toe 131e of the latch, when in the position shown in Fig. 1l retains a pole axle 45 until the latch is dropped by rotation of disk 121 with its accompanying spacer pins. The spacer disk 121 has three indented track parts 121:1, 1211 121e (Fig. 17) to receive, control, and direct a pole axle. Retrograde movement of spacer disk 121, that is clockwise in Fig. 17, is prevented by engagement of a spacer pin 122 with the heel of latch 131. Transfer disk 121 vcarries three spaced rollers 133 which, as will appear, are successively engaged by pole carriers 144 on the unloading conveyor, which are identical with the carriers 44 on the loading conveyor. rotates transfer disk 121 through about 120, as permitted by its friction clutch disk 124.

As the pole roller moves down inclined section 114e: the axle comes to a stop against latch part 131a. In this position lug 113 clears the axle and the pole rests momentarily. The spacing of carriers 144 is such that a carrier soon arrives to registry with the transfer disk. The lower linger 144a of a carrier 144 contacts a roller 133 on the transfer disk and rotates the disk. As soon as spacer pin 122 clears the bottom corner of front face 13117 the latch begins to drop, and when toe 131a clears the pole axle, the pole rolls forward a short distance into engagement with the face 121a (Fig. 17) and then, as disk 121 turns counterclockwise, into the corner where face 121a meets the shorter radial face of the Vcut-out. When this shorter face begins to be inclined below horizontal position, the pole moves only a short distance to reach the slot between fingers 144a and 144b of carrier 144. While this is going on the latch 131 has dropped to rest in its lowest position on top of the next successive spacer pin 122. The just-described position as well shown ,in Fig. l0. The longer finger 144!) of the carrier 144 next contacts roller 133 and moves it to the indexed position shown in Fig. 17 wherein the transfer disk is in .position to receive the next pole from the drying con- --veyor, and the last pole transferred is proceeding downwardly on the unloading conveyor U. From this dev scription it. will be apparent that the motive force for rotating the transfer disk is derived frictionally from rotation of the. unloading conveyor itself.

Operation und structure of the unloading conveyor In this description of the novel features and operation of,` the unloading conveyor, reference may be had to yFigms. 5, `6, 7 and 8 which show thelower end of the un- This engagement CJI wise.

loading'conveyor, left side as viewed from the loading end. Figs. 5 and 6 are views from within the apparatus, that is to say between the right and left frame structures. Fig. 7 is a view from outside. Fig. 8, of course, is a vertical sectional View.

The loaded pole, with a dry rug thereon, is carried downwardly, its roller riding against the leg 88d of the angle track. This leg may be wider, to add strength to the vertical structure. The pole release mechanism can be disposed either at the bottom of the left-hand conveyor, as here shown, or it can be on the right conveyor. The release mechanism is responsive to operation of a sprocket 46 xed on pole axle 45. There are two spaced arcuately arranged sets of pins 136 and 137 respectively above and below the arcuate path of travel of the pole at the lower end of conveyor U. Depending on the choice of the operator, the sprocket can be caused to contact either pins 136 or 137, and since the pins are spaced to cooperate with the sprocket teeth, the pole may be caused to rotate in either one of the two possible directions depending on which set of pins the sprocket contacts.

A shiftable arcuate track portion in which the pole wheel 45a rolls, as best seen in Fig. 8, provides the means whereby the axle and sprocket 46 may be moved either upwardly or downwardly to respectively contact either pins 136 or 137. This shiftable track portion has upper segment 138a and lower segment 13Sb between which wheel 45a controllably moves. The backing plate 138 of the shiftable track portion fits with clearance between the track frames 88d and slides in contact with a support plate 139 (Fig. 7) secured to the tracks. Plate 138 is movable by means of a pair 0f spaced toggles having upper links 140:1, 149D, and lower links 141a, 141b operatable by a fluid power motor 142 by means of a piston 143 and its red 14M. The lower links 14151, 141!) are, in

elicot, bell cranks, although of triangular plate form and they are cross-connected t0 work in unison by means of a link 145. The links 14th:, 149.5 are pivotally connected to studs on movable plate 138, and the links 1410, 14111 are pivotally connected to studs on fixed plate 139. The movable plate is provided with suitable studs which slidably lit in slots 146 and 147 in the fixed plates, for guiding purposes, and the studs at the upper end of links 140i: and 14d!) also extend through guide slots in the fixed plate. in Fig. 7 the toggles are shown fully extended, so that plate 138is in its uppermost position, and sprocket 46 can rotate in contact with upper pins 136. in Fig. 5 the toggles are broken and the Sprocket 46 can rotate in contact with the lower pins 137. This latter is the normal operating position, as will appear in the following paragraph.

Referring briefly to Fig. l, the rug scrubbing is done on the lower ilocr 151), within the confines of the conveyors, and in loading at the right side ofthe figure the rear side of the rug is looped crosswise over an ascending pole. Accordingly, to release the rug the pole must be rotated in the opposite direction, counterclockwise in Fig. l or clockwise in the Fig. 5 view, which means that the pole sprocket must roll around the lower set of pins. in certain installations the rugs are placed on the poles from the other side, and the rug backs will be looped in the opposite direction, so they will have to be rotated reversely in releasing. To accomplish this in normal procedure the `air supply lines can be reversed to motor 142, the operation of which will later appear. The shiftable track device, therefore, imparts llexibility, so that it can be adapted very readily to meet the situation in a given plant. The shifting device however has a more immediate purpose, as will appear. i

The automatic operation of the stripping device proceeds as follows. As the loaded pole wheel 45a rolls in between the segments 138avand 13Sb, sprocket 46 engages rack pins 137 (Fig. 5) and the pole begins to rotate clock- It will be recalled that a pole does not normally rotate since it hangs below an ori-center axle. There is an auxiliary stripping device which extends transversely between the right and left conveyor frames which makes contact with the leading face of the rug, normally the nap side. This device consists of a pole or pipe 151 (Figs. 5 and 8) having a carding cloth 152 wrapped at least partially around it (Fig. 14). As is known to those skilled in the art, carding cloth consists of closely spaced wire points or pins held in a fabric backing, and the points usually extend at a common angle to the backing so that -material drawn across them in one direction adheres, but is readily freed by movement in the other direction. In the present instance the angularity is downward, so that the initial downward movement of the rug against the stripper is permitted to proceed freely, but as the pole axle sprocket engages the track pins, the rug pole begins to cross underneath the conveyor. This causes a reversal of rug movement on the carding cloth, and the rug is held, facilitating its removal from the pole 21. When it is completely freed from this pole it drops by gravity from the carding cloth stripper. An inspection and/or wrapping table may be disposed beneath the stripper.

Track shifter in operation Figs. 6 and 7 show (from the inside and outside respectively) the arcuate shiftable track in its up position, producing counterclo-ckwise rotation 4of the rug pole, as above described. In Fig. 6 a rug 20m is shown dropping free. Occasionally an extra long rug, runner or the like must be dried, -and this is done by looping each end over a separate pole, one such example 20x being shown in Fig. l. When loading such article, the front end is looped over a pole in normal direction and the conveyor is started. The rear end is looped reversely (counterclockwise in Fig. l) over the next pole, the nap lying outwardly to facilitate drying.

When the iirst pole reaches the transfer point and starts down, the hanging loop temporarily decreases, but the second pole will reach the unloading conveyor before the rst pole reaches the unloading point so that a short loop is maintained, depending on rug length. With the shifting track in normal position the first pole rotates to free the leading end of 4the rug. As the pole with the trailing end thereon reaches the unloading point, the operator reverses the shiftable track position, in manner to appear below, and the second pole is rotated in the opposite direction, freeing the trailing end of the rug which, it will be remembered, was looped in the opposite direction.

Referring to Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 13, to shift the arcuate unloading track the opera-tor pushes the control plunger end 153a of a slide Valve 153 to change it from the normal working position (Fig. -to the occasional or abnormal working position (Figs 6 and 13). Air is at all times supplied to valve 153 through pipe 154 which is between packing heads 155 and 156 on the plunger. A glance at Fig. 13 indicates that reversal of 'the plunger position has cut o air to one outlet, for example to pipe 158 Yas shown, and supplies it to pipe 157. Looking now at Fig. 7, inrwhich the track 138 is at the moment in abnormal position, supply of air from pipe 157 to the lower end ofV motor 142 has moved the piston 143 upwardly straightening the toggle linkage and reversing the track position. Air from the inactive `side of motor 142 exhausts rearwardly through pipe 158 and out the exhaust ports at the end of slide valve 153. Rod 168 is a manual control rod for the toggle linkage.

Empty pole return to loading end After completing the unloading traverse between the shiftable track segments 138:1, 138b, the empty pole is `carried up the outside ilight of Ur (Fig. ll) of the unloading conveyor by its carrier 144. It will be recalled that the unloading conveyor U and the empty pole return con veyor R both travel at fast speed and at the transfer point, shown in Fig. ll, they run around a lpair of identical sprockets 83 and 84 on shaft 82. These sprock-ets'are close together. The horizontal conveyor is provided with spaced carriers (really pushers) 161 each of which is arranged to pass the transfer point at the same time that an ascending carrier 144 arrives with an empty pole. This coincidence is shown in dotted line in the upper left corner of Fig. 11. Carrier 144, as it rounds its sprocket 84, pushes its empty pole past the lower right corner ofa pivoted latch plate 162 which rises -to permit passage of the pole axle, and drops behind it, preventing rearward fall of the pole as its carrier releases it. The long finger of carrier 144 gives the axle a camming push as it releases it and the upwardly extending lug of carrier 161 takes over the movement of the pole along the top of |conveyor ight R1.

The angle bracket 163 which supports ythe shafts of sprockets 83 Iand 84 ts through `a hole in a plate 164. The latter carries a section of guide track 165 which pa1`a1- lels the chain of conveyor R1 at this point. A Ishort piece of angle 166 underlies this chain and coopera-tes with track 165 to guide and support the pole end when its axle moves out from under the rear inclined linger of carrier 144.

The upper ight R1 of 4the pole return conveyor rides on a guide or tra-ck bar 167 Iand the lower run R rests on 'a similar bar 168. These guide bars are supported at their ends as shown in Fig. 11. The vertical guides 109 and the horizontal guides 167 and 168 `are united by suitable spacers.

Empty p ol'e transfer to loading conveyorl In this connection reference may be had to Figs. 2, 9, 10 and 12. vArriving back at the loading end the carrier 161, pushing an empty pole, starts down'the inclined section towards sprocket 67. A -circular plate 172, with notches 172:1, rotates with sprocket 67 being supported from the sprocket by studs 173. Plate 172 has a central clearance hole for the end of tubular bearing housing 62 for shaft 74 (Fig. 12). This notched plate 172 functions as a pole carrier for the trans-fer, and one o'f its duties is to prevent the pole from rolling unrestrained around the corner. In the construction shown, the stop link 171 restrains the pole in its travel down the incline, Iand a notch 172eV arrives in synchronism with the delivery ot a pole bythe stop link. The pole roller travels around the curved guide 174. This guide has a back plate 174a fastened to sprocket bracket 68. As is well shown in Figs. 2 and 9 the entrance to curved track 174 is flared to 'alssure reception of the pole roller in the ltrack in the event the pole roller is not arriving in correct position, for any reason.

The pole rounds the curved track and comes to registry with a cut-out portion of a transfer disk 175 which is quite similar t-o the transfer disk 121 previously described, and shown in Fig. l7. The disk 175' travels in synchronisni with disk 172, and there will always be a out out in disk 175 to receive a pole. It has a latch 176, spacer pins 177 to support the latch, and rollers 178 to be intercepted by respective carriers i4-on the loading conveyor. This interception rotates transfer disk 175 to release latch lever 176 and deliver a pole to conveyor ilight L1 (Fig. l) whereby it is carried downwardly and around to the loading point, thereby completing a travel cycle.

Automatic track return tonormal position 143:1 downwardly, and set the arcuate track .1.3.3. in riQzml operating position.

Referring more specifically to Fig. 8, as Well asgto Figs. 6 and 7, the cross bracket 108 secured to the vertical track members 88e has an inwardly extending cylindrical portion 10711 bored to mount a stub shaft 107i?. The latter is secured by a casteliated nut 182 and has a headed bearing portion mounting a. ball bearing 183. Sprocket 8 5 has a hub portion bored to lit on the ball bearing, and is held in place by a cover plate 184, the construction described in this paragraph being similar to that of the lower end of the loading conveyor.

A washer 185 tits in a rabbetted groove on the front of the sprocket 8S. This washer carries the upper rack of pins 136,` and it is fastened by screws to a plate 186 which in turn is secured to chain guide bar 169. Plate 186 is spaced by shims from the guide bar on each side to leave clearance for sprocket 85. The lower rack of pins 137 is carried by a plate 187 fastened to side pieces 188 secured to the track frame.

Another embodiment of track shift control In this connection attention is directed 4to Fig. 16. In this embodiment a single acting air motor 189 is used as a power source, in conjunction with a spring 190 which serves as an over-center bias when connected to the break point 191 of the toggle linkage. A conventional on-oif air valve 192 supplies air to pipe 193 for motor 189. The link rod 194 is similar to link rod 180 in Fig. 6, but is connected to link 19S, the operating link, which in this embodiment is the upper link. Operation of the device is as follows. To shift the track by straightening the toggle linkage air is admitted to fluid motor 189 by valve 192. When the pole leavesthe arcuate track and begins its ascent it trips a lever as before, thereby exerting a downward push on rod 194 so as to swing link 195 counterclockwise and break the toggle, whereupon spring 190 collapses the toggle linkage to normal position and pushes the piston of motor 189 downwardly to normal operating position. Air exhausts from motor 189 through the exhaust port of the valve.

Chain interlock with transfer disk n ment previously' described only the friction clutch plates t 118, 123, 124 prevented such accidental counterclockwise rotation, and occasionally a very heavy rug might cause the carrier 144 to cock or twist far enough so that the longer carrier iinger 144th would push roller 133 further than intended so as to rotate disk 121 beyond norp mal registered position. The extra wide chain parts 128 maintain a sufficiently close clearance from rollers 133 so as to prevent disk rotation when such rotation is n ot desired. When the next carrier 144 arrives itl of course rotates disk 121 the required amount.v At this time the disk rollers register with the extra long links 114 so that the roliers can fit in the space between a chain part 128 and the leading finger 11i4a of carrier 144. It is true that the extra long links 114 could be dispensed with by cutting out portions of the chain parts 128 where they register with disk rollers 13,3. The chain rollers ride against the side guide bars .109 to prevent lateral displacement of the chain.

Safety mounting of conveyor drive .support Fig. 18 shows a feature which has 4particular' utility in the type of conveyor here used. The end bearing support 196 for shaft 25h is pivotally connected at 197 to the base plate. At the rear en d a stud 198 secured in the b ase plate tits through a clearance hole 199 in a `lug pr ange on the bearing support. On the stud ,198 lis a heavy comiii) pression Spring 29,!! bei@ by nuts Qgl. @other .sind 2%.

also passing with Clearance through a hearing Support portion 2.03 and. secured in dichas? has a mit assembly 204 which serves as a positive limit sinA after a, Certain amount 0f @Impression of Springv 2.0.0.-

Spriris 20! holds the bearing, Support down firmly enough during normal running Conditions, but if Afor any reason the conveyor assembly driven. by chain 29!) jams. the .Continued rotation 0f sprocket ,30 causes it to begin t0 climb upon Chain 2.9,.b, thereby raising the `rear end of support 196 against the bias of spring 200. The foot 196i:V operates a switch Sa which breaks the maintaining circuit for motor 23 as previously described in connection with the wiring diagram, Fig. l5, thereby stoppingv the motor.

Shaft 25a which drives thel other side of the conveyor system has an identical safety feature at its outer end.

To give some idea of the dimensions Yand other physical characteristics of a typical installation, the layout which formed the basis for the figures in the present application is situated in a dry lroom .44 feet long, and 1 6 feet, 7 inches in height to the I-beams. The loading conveyor has a length of 25 feet, 5 inches, center to center and has four pole carriers. The unloading conveyor is 18 feet, 9 inches long, center to center and has three pole carriers. For

1 the loading and unloading conveyors the carriers are 13 feet, 4 inches apart on their respective chains. The horizontal drying conveyor is 36 feet, 3 inches long and has 90 pusher lugs, spaced l0 inches apart. The empty pole return conveyor is 38 feet, 9 inches long and has six carriers, 3 Working and 3 coming up empty, the carriers being spaced 13 feet, 4 inches apart as in the case of the loading and unloading conveyors. It may be determined from a comparison of the distances between carriers and pushers on the respective conveyors that the slow drying conveyor moves sixteen times slower than the other conveyors.- In the slow-return conveyors of the prior art approximately one-half of the poles are running empty. In the present device only a small proportion of the poles run empty.

What I claim is:

l. In a rug-drying apparatus of the character described wherein a rug is suspended from a pole by impaling an edge thereof on sharp projections on the pole so Athat upon rotation of the pole in one 4direction the rug drops by gravity therefrom, the pole being carried in horizontal position on an unloading conveyor to an unloading station, rug unloading means comprising an unloading track section upon which said pole travels at said station, means for shifting said track section from a normal position to an abnormal position under the control of an operator, a tirst pole-rotating means near said normal position, a second pole rotating means near said abnormal position, and contacting means on said pole adapted to make contact either with said first pole-rotating means or said second pole-rotating means whereby to rotate said pole in one direction or the other depending on the position of said unloading track section whereby to .strip said rug from said pole.

2. Rug drying apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein means is provided for returning said unloading track section from abnormal position to normal position, including trigger means in the path of travel of said empty pole beyond said unloading track section, and operatively responsive to passage of said empty pole thereby for causing return of; said unloading track section whenever it has previously been moved to abnormal position.

3. ln a rug-drying apparatus of the character described wherein a rug is suspended from a pole by impaliug an edge thereof on sharp projections on the pole so that upon rotation of the pole in one direction the rug drops by `gravity therefrom, the pole being carried in a horizontal position on an unloading conveyor towards an unloading station, rug unloading Ameans comprising an unloading track section over which said pole travel-s at said station, means for moving said track section from a normal position to an abnormal position at the choice of an operator, a rack near said normal track position, a second rack near said abnormal track position, a sprocket on said pole adapted to cooperate with the rack near the track position in which the pole is travelling, whereby to cause rotation of said pole to strip the rug from the pole.

4. Rug drying apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein each said rack consists of a spaced row of pins for cooperation with the teeth of said sprocket to rotate said pole.

5. Rug drying apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the means for moving said unloading track section con* sists of an over center toggle linkage, tension spring means for urging said toggle linkage past center, power means for extending said toggle linkage to move said unloading track section to abnormal position, trigger means in the path of travel of the empty pole beyond Said unloading position, and link means responsive to contact between said pole and said trigger and effective to break said toggle whereby lsaid spring returns said unloading track section to normal position.

6. In a rug drying apparatus of the character described wherein a rug is suspended from a pole by impaling an edge thereof on sharp projections on the pole so that upon rotation of the pole in one direction the rug drops by gravity therefrom, the pole being carried in horizontal position on an unloading conveyor to an unloading station, rug unloading means comprising an unloading track section in said conveyor, said pole being moved along said track section at said unloading station, means for shifting said track section from a normal position to an abnormal position under the control .of an operator, ya iirst pole rotating means near said normal track position adapted to rotate said pole in one direction, a second pole rotating means near said Iabnormal track position adapted to rotate said pole in the other direction, means establishing operative engagement between said pole and one or the other said pole rotating means whereby to rotate said pole at said unloading station in the appropriate direction to strip said rug from said pole.

7. Rug drying apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the means for moving said track -section includes a frame part on which said track section is carried, a toggle linkage having two pivoted links, a free end of one link being fixed in position, the free end of the other link being connected to said frame part for movement thereof, power means operatively connected to said toggle linkage for extending said toggle to move the frame part in one direction, and for jack-knifing said toggle to move the frame part in the other direction, and trigger means in the path of travel of the stripped pole whereby to be operated thereby for returning said frame part to normal position whenever it has previously been moved to abnormal position.

No references cited. 

